10. Projection and other useful tools

In this episode, Bernie explores how learning from others helps us learn about ourselves, especially when we are seeking assistance. From mantras collected from colleagues ("We don't have enough time to hurry" and “All design is redesign”) to the powerful tool of projection, Bernie offers tools to help us navigate interactions, teamwork, and life.

We're joined by Wendy Ju, a leading expert in human-computer interaction and professor at Cornell Tech. Wendy shares her journey from being rejected by Bernie when she wanted to take ‘The Designer in Society’ as an undergrad to later co-teaching a class with him. She discusses how their teaching team's productive conflicts became powerful learning moments, as well as some of the class’s best-known – and in one case, infamous – projects.

We also cover the curse of networking, mini-mentoring, and managing conflict on a team. We hope you’ll join us!

00:00 Bernie's mantras from colleagues: "We don't have enough time to hurry"

01:33 The projection exercise explained

07:58 The problem with the Myer-Briggs and similar tests

10:18 When conflict arises on teams

13:21 Mini-mentoring vs. formal mentorship

15:56 The curse of networking

17:40 Introducing Wendy Ju

20:39 Wendy's journey from rejected undergraduate to co-instructor of Transformative Design

22:17 (In)famous class projects: Juul and Juntos

23:43 Teaching team dynamics and productive conflict

24:32 The power of mantras and Wendy’s "Time passes for free"

30:49 Bernie's hot tub projection revelation

Follow us on Instagram: @yelloweyedcatspodcast to see extras from this episode!

Co-hosts: Bernie Roth & Krista Donaldson; Producer: Krista Donaldson